By Greg Washburn and Joshua Belisle · Edited by Dana Gardner
Published August 2, 2024 · Reviewed by Greg Washburn · June 15, 2026
Summary
How do I choose the right vacuum pump for resin conveying?
Choosing a vacuum pump starts with understanding that the pump is the source of both airflow and vacuum in a resin conveying system. Airflow creates the velocity that picks up and moves resin; vacuum overcomes the resistance of air and material in the lines. The right pump type maximizes efficiency, minimizes line plugs and machine starving, and leaves room to expand the system.
Correct Pump Selection Is Critical to Conveying System Health
Like the heart that keeps our blood flowing through our bodies, vacuum pumps keep resin flowing through your processing facility so they are critical to the health of your conveying system.
It is important to understand the differences between pump types so you can:
- Maximize the efficiency of your resin conveying system.
- Minimize line plugs, maintenance and machine starving.
- Expand an existing conveying system without ripping out existing lines.
Air and vacuum work together to make everything happen in a resin conveying system. Airflow creates the velocity to pick up and move the resin through the pipes. Vacuum energy overcomes the resistance created by air and material as they move through the pipes. The conveying system’s “engine” is the pump, which is the source for airflow and vacuum. (See Basic Performance Characteristics of Pumps)
An integral filter and an external cyclone dust collector are used to keep stray dust and fines out of the vacuum pump. A highly effective cyclone dust collector is an important component to ensure extended pump life. It should remove 99% of dust and fines from the airstream.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between airflow and vacuum in conveying?
Airflow creates the velocity needed to pick up resin and move it through the pipes. Vacuum energy overcomes the resistance created by air and material as they travel through those pipes. The vacuum pump supplies both, which is why it is described as the engine of the conveying system.
How do I keep dust out of my vacuum pump?
Use the pump’s integral filter together with an external cyclone dust collector ahead of it. A highly effective cyclone is an important part of extending pump life and should remove 99% of dust and fines from the airstream, leaving the pump filter to handle only what remains.
Why does vacuum pump selection matter for a conveying system?
The pump keeps resin moving through the whole facility, so a poor choice affects the entire system. Understanding the differences between pump types helps you maximize conveying efficiency, minimize line plugs, maintenance, and machine starving, and expand an existing conveying system without ripping out the existing lines.
About the Authors
Vice President of Operations, Novatec
Greg Washburn is Vice President of Operations at Novatec and has been with the company for more than three decades. He is involved in all phases of engineering design and product manufacturing, giving him a broad perspective on how resin drying and conveying equipment moves from engineering concept through production and into real-world processing environments. Greg holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and an MBA from Loyola University Maryland. His experience spans engineering, manufacturing and operations across Novatec’s material-handling technologies.
Technology Manager, Novatec
Joshua Belisle is Technology Manager at Novatec, where his work focuses on simulation and technology development for resin drying. He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Business from the University of Virginia in 2023 and joined Novatec that same year. Joshua uses simulation tools to investigate previously difficult-to-measure aspects of the drying process, helping Novatec better understand airflow, heat transfer and other variables that influence resin-drying performance.
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